Brian Mendoza Aims for Another Career-Changing Upset

Brian Mendoza will take a late call to face Erickson Tellez on the undercard of the Fundora-Thurman pay-per-view. The 32-year-old from Albuquerque carries a 23-4 record with 17 knockouts into the bout.

Past Breakthroughs

Mendoza earned national attention with a fifth-round knockout of Jeison Rosario in Minneapolis. That victory came on nine days’ notice in November 2022.

He followed that with a seventh-round knockout of Sebastian Fundora in April 2023. The win secured Mendoza the WBC interim junior middleweight crown.

Recent Struggles and Activity

After beating Fundora, Mendoza dropped consecutive 12-round unanimous decisions. Tim Tszyu and Serhii Bohachuk handed him those defeats.

Since the Bohachuk loss in March 2024, Mendoza fought once. On July 4, he stopped Jesus Rojas by fourth-round TKO in Ciudad Juarez. Rojas entered that fight with a 12-11-2 record and 10 knockouts.

Opponent and Context

Erickson Tellez is a 25-year-old Cuban with an 11-1 ledger and eight knockouts. He lost his WBA interim junior middleweight belt to Abass Baraou on August 23 at Caribe Royale Orlando.

Baraou, now 17-2 with nine KOs, scored a knockdown in the 12th and won a unanimous decision. Both Tellez and Mendoza need a solid performance before Fundora faces Keith Thurman for the WBC 154-pound title.

Title Picture

Sebastian Fundora stands at 23-1-1 with 15 knockouts. The 6-foot-6 southpaw could defend his position if he defeats Thurman.

Keith Thurman owns a 31-1 mark with 23 KOs and one no-contest. A Fundora win would shape future matchup opportunities in the division.

Preparation and Motivation

Mendoza says he has stayed in the gym for the past two years. He reports drilling, sparring, and fine-tuning his boxing skills while awaiting opportunities.

At a press conference at the MGM Grand, he quipped about his history of taking short-notice fights. He sees this chance as another bid for a career-changing upset and a route back into title contention.

Event Details

The Mendoza-Tellez match is the co-feature on the Fundora-Thurman pay-per-view at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The broadcast windows list 8 p.m. ET and 5 p.m. PT, with the PPV priced at $74.99.

Promoters and fans expect an entertaining bout. Mendoza hopes a victory will restore his ranking and make him a viable opponent for Fundora again.